Do I need admin rights to run the portable build?

No. The portable build can run from a user-writable folder without admin rights.

Is my database encrypted by default?

No. New databases are plain SQLite by default unless you set an encryption key (SQLCipher).

Open the file and enter the correct SQLCipher key and parameters. If you get 'file is not a database', check Troubleshooting.

Wherever you chose during extraction. You can move the folder to another drive if needed.

Portable Windows build • No admin required

Run the portable DB Browser (SQLCipher) on Windows in minutes. Extract the app, launch it, and open or create your first encrypted SQLite database.

Need help? See Troubleshooting for common issues like "file is not a database".

Download the .paf.exe

Use the button above to download the portable installer from GitHub Releases.

Extract to a folder

Double‑click the file, choose a destination folder you can write to (e.g. Documents or a USB drive).

Launch the app

Open the folder and run SQLiteDatabaseBrowserPortable.exe. No admin rights required.

Create a new database

Go to File → New Database. Choose a location and name. To encrypt, set a passphrase when prompted (SQLCipher).

Open an existing database

Use File → Open Database. If the DB is encrypted, enter the correct key and parameters when prompted.

Run SQL

Open the Execute SQL tab to run queries. To verify encryption support, run: PRAGMA cipher_version;.

Use a strong, unique passphrase. Avoid reusing passwords from other services.
Keep backups before rekeying or migrating encrypted databases.
If you see "file is not a database", check SQLCipher version/parameters and your key. See Troubleshooting.
Stick to Windows 10/11 64‑bit when possible for best compatibility.

This is an unofficial resource. Verify releases on the official repository if needed.

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